Article storage device

ABSTRACT

A shoe or article storage device, such as a shoe rack, includes a base and a shelf unit slidably mounted to the base for movement between a first position and a second offset position. The shelf unit is also rotatably mounted to the base for rotatable movement relative thereto. The shelf unit includes a first tier of article receptacles and a second tier of article receptacles stacked on top of the first tier. Each tier of article receptacles includes at least a first receptacle having a first receptacle access opening disposed at a first side of the shelf unit and at least a second receptacle having a second receptacle access opening disposed at a second, opposite side of the shelf unit.

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/034,493, filed Mar. 7, 2008, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to an improved article storagedevice, and particularly relates to a rotatable and slidable articlestorage device, such as a shoe rack, for optimizing storage and/oraccessibility within a confined area, such as a closet.

Household storage space for clothing and accessory articles is generallylimited in one's residence. Such storage space often includes closets,which are particularly configured for hanging clothes and sometimesprovide a minimal amount of shelf space for storing accessory articles.Many times, shoes are stored within a closet, such as an entry areacloset, on a floor thereof. Unfortunately, simply storing shoes on afloor of a closet often results in disorganized and inefficient pilingof shoes within already crowded closet spaces and/or in the stacking ofshoes in shoe boxes in and around a closet area on otherwise usablefloor space. This tends to make selection of a matching pair of shoesdifficult.

In an effort to deal with these problems, many types of storage deviceshave been designed over the years to accommodate and store variousarticles, including shoes. These devices are sometimes particularlyconfigured for use within a closet. For example, shoe racks are known ofthe type that are mounted to the wall of a closet, or rested on thecloset floor, or supported by various types of frame structures. Anothertype of a shoe rack is a fabric type having a plurality of pocketsadapted to receive shoes therein that is fastened the backside of acloset door. Unfortunately, many of these prior art article storagedevices, including shoe racks, suffer drawbacks in that they are toocumbersome, take up too much space, are difficult to use, fail tosufficiently maximize storage space within a closet or other confinedarea, etc.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a shoe rack is provided. More particularly, inaccordance with this aspect, the shoe rack includes a base and a shelfunit slidably and rotatably mounted to the base. The shelf unit definesa plurality of stacked shoe receptacles each dimensioned for receipt ofa pair of shoes. The plurality of stacked shoe receptacles includes atleast a first shoe receptacle having a first shoe receptacle accessopening disposed along a first side of the shelf unit and at least asecond shoe receptacle having a second shoe receptacle access openingdisposed along a second, opposite side of the shelf unit.

According to another aspect, a shoe or article storage device isprovided for optimizing storage and accessibility within a confinedarea, such as a closet. More particularly, in accordance with thisaspect, the shoe or article storage device includes a base and a shelfunit. The shelf unit is slidably mounted to the base for movementbetween a first position and a second offset position. The shelf unit isalso rotatably mounted to the base for rotatable movement relativethereto. The shelf unit includes a first tier of article receptacles anda second tier of article receptacles stacked on top of the first tier.Each tier of article receptacles includes at least a first receptaclehaving a first receptacle access opening disposed at a first side of theshelf unit and at least a second receptacle having a second receptacleaccess opening disposed at a second, opposite side of the shelf unit.

According to still another aspect, a rotatable and slidable articlestorage rack is provided. More particularly, in accordance with thisaspect, the rotatable and slidable article storage rack includes a baseand a shelf unit slidably and rotatably mounted to the base. The shelfunit defines a plurality of tiered receptacles. The tiered receptaclesinclude a first set of receptacles having first access openings facingoutward from a first side of the shelf unit and a second set ofreceptacles having second access openings facing outward from a secondside of the shelf unit. The first access openings face in a firstdirection relative to the base when the shelf unit is in a firstrotatable position relative to the base. The second access openings facein the first direction when the shelf unit is rotated from the firstrotatable position one hundred and eighty degrees to a second rotatableposition relative to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable and slidable article storagedevice.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the article storage device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article storage device shown locatedwith a confined area and slidably moved into a second offset position.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the article storage device shownbeing rotated from the position in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is still another perspective view of the article storage deviceshown being further rotated to a second rotatable position whereinreceptacles on a second side of the device are accessible.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of an article storage device according to analternate embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the article storage device ofFIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are only forpurposes of illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments and not forlimiting the same, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a shoe or article storage device10 which can optimize storage and/or accessibility within a confinedarea, such as a closet. As will be described in more detail below, theillustrated storage device 10 is a rotatable and slidable storage deviceincluding a base 12 and a shelf unit 14 slidably and rotatably mountedto the base 12. As will also be described in more detail below, thestorage rack 10 can be particularly adapted for storing shoes and whenso configured can be referred to as a shoe rack.

In the illustrated embodiment, a mounting assembly 16 (FIG. 2) slidablyand rotatably mounts the shelf unit 14 to the base 12. Specifically, themounting assembly 16 includes at least one slidable track member 18 (twotrack members are employed in the illustrated embodiment), anintermediate plate or member 20, and a rotatable plate or member 22. Theshelf unit 14 is slidably mounted to the base 12 via the track members18 for movement between a first or home position (shown in FIG. 1) and asecond offset position (shown in FIG. 3). When moved from the firstposition to the second offset position, the shelf unit 14 (along withthe intermediate and rotatable members 20, 22) moves relative to thebase 12 along the track members 18. The shelf unit 14 is rotatablymounted to the base 12 through the rotatable member 22, which allowsrotatable movement of the shelf unit 14 relative to the base 12. Suchrotatable movement of the shelf unit 14 also occurs relative tointermediate member 20 and the track members 18.

As shown, the shelf unit 14 defines a plurality of tiered receptacles.In particular, the shelf unit 14 includes a first tier 30 of articlereceptacles and second tier 32 of article receptacles stacked on top ofthe first tier. In the illustrated embodiment, the shelf unit 14 furtherincludes a third tier 34 of article receptacles stacked on top of thesecond tier 32. Of course, while the illustrated embodiment employsthree tiers of article receptacles, it is to be appreciated that feweror more tiers could be employed. In addition, varying dimensions couldbe employed (i.e., dimensions and/or proportions other than thosedepicted in the illustrated embodiment.

Each tier of article receptacles includes at least a first receptaclehaving a first receptacle access opening disposed at a first side 36 ofthe shelf unit 14 and the at least a second receptacle having a secondreceptacle access opening disposed at a second, opposite side 38 (FIG.5) of the shelf unit 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the first tier30 includes a first set of receptacles 40, 42 having first accessopenings 40 a, 42 a facing outward from the first side 36 of the shelfunit 14. With additional reference to FIG. 5, the first tier 30 alsoincludes a second set of receptacles 44, 46 having second accessopenings 44 a, 46 a facing outward from the second side 38 of the shelfunit 14. The first access openings 42 a, 44 a face in a first directionrelative to the base 12 (i.e., outward from forward side 78 of base 12)when the shelf unit is in its first rotatable position relative to thebase 12 (the rotatable position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). The secondaccess openings 44 a, 46 a face in the same first direction (i.e.,outward from forward side 78 of base 12) when the shelf unit 14 isrotated from the first rotatable position one hundred and eighty degrees(180°) to the second rotatable position relative to the base (shown inFIG. 5). As shown, the first receptacles 40, 42 of the first tier 30 andthe second receptacles 44, 46 of the first tier 30 are disposed inback-to-back relation and, in the illustrated embodiment, share a commonback wall 48.

The second and third tiers 32, 34 can similarly include respective firstsets of receptacles and second sets of receptacles. More specifically,the second tier 32 can include a first set of receptacles 50, 52 havingfirst access openings 50 a, 52 a facing outward from the first side 36of the shelf unit 14 and a second set of receptacles 54, 56 havingsecond access openings 54 a, 56 a facing outward from the second side 38of the shelf unit. Likewise, the third tier 34 can include the first setof receptacles 58, 60 having first access openings 58 a, 60 a facingoutward from the first side 36 of the shelf unit 14 and a second set ofreceptacles 62, 64 having second access openings 62 a, 64 a facingoutward from the second side 38 of the shelf unit 14. As shown in theillustrated embodiment, the article receptacles described thusfar of thefirst, second, and third tiers 30, 32, 34 can all be generally bebox-shaped, though this is not required.

In use, the storage device 10 can be placed within a confined area, suchas closet 70 shown in FIGS. 3-5. The storage device 10 is particularlysuitable for being positioned along a wall 72 within such a confinedarea 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacles of the storagedevice 10 are each shown as being dimensioned or sized particularly forreceipt of a pair of shoes 76. When positioned in its rest or homeposition (shown in FIG. 1) and located within a closet 70 along wall 72,access to the receptacles 40, 42, 50, 52, 58, 60 facing outward fromshelf unit side 36 is easily gained as the corresponding access openings40 a, 42 a, 50 a, 52 a, 58 a, 60 a are facing outward away from the wall72 in the direction of first side 78 of the base 12. In contrast, theaccess openings 44 a, 46 a, 54 a, 56 a, 62 a, 64 a of the secondreceptacles 44, 46, 54, 56, 62, 64 are relative inaccessible as theseface in a direction toward the wall 72 away from second side 80 of thebase 12 (i.e., the second side 80 being positioned along the wall 72).Generally, the second side 80 of the base 12, and the second side 38 ofthe shelf unit 14 when the shelf unit is in its first home position,define a positioning plane, which can be closely adjacent the wail 72and is generally parallel therewith.

When the device 10 is positioned adjacent or against the wall 72, thepositioning plane is closely adjacent the wall 72 of the confined space(i.e., closet 70). 72. Absent such slidable movement to the secondoffset position, the wall 72 would impede rotation of the shelf unit 14.Thus, the shelf unit 14 is only rotatable from the first rotatableposition at FIG. 1 to the second rotatable position of FIG. 5 when theshelf unit 14 is slidably displaced. When in the second offset position,the shelf unit can be rotated as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the secondrotatable position of FIG. 5 thereby providing access to the receptacles44, 46, 54, 56, 62, 64 of the second side 38 of the shelf unit 14. As aresult of the shelf unit 14 being slidable to the offset position, theshelf unit can remain fully disposed on one side of the positioningplane, and when in the second offset position of FIGS. 3-5, it can berotated fully through three hundred and sixty degrees (360°) withoutpassing through the positioning plane.

The article storage device 10 can be formed of knockdown components foreasy assembly. More particularly, with reference to FIG. 2, the shelfunit 14 can be constructed of a plurality of generally planar membersthat interlock with one another and are secured together viaconventional fastening devices (e.g., cam action knock-down fasteners).In particular, the depicted shelf unit 14 includes a base wall or member90, a plurality of vertical walls 92, 94, 96, 98, 48 and a top wall ormember 102. The vertical walls include the common back wall 48, endwalls 92, 94 and dividing walls 96, 98. These vertical walls can besecured or connected to the base and top walls 90, 102 via cam actionknock-down fasteners 100, which can include dowels 100 a received indowel holes 101 a and cams 100 b received in recesses 101 b. The dowel100 a then being releasably secured in the cams 100 b. Of course othertypes of knock-down fasteners could be used, or other conventionalfasteners (e.g., screws). To form the article receptacles on each sideof the common wall 48, horizontal dividing walls 104, 106, 108, 110 canbe interlocked with the vertical walls 92, 94, 96. In particular, afirst horizontal wall 104 having slots 104 a can be interlocked to walls92, 94, 96 via corresponding slots 112 defined respectively in thesewalls. The horizontal wall 104 divides the first tier 30 from the secondtier 32. The second horizontal wall 106 can likewise include slots 106 afor engaging corresponding slots 114 on the walls 92, 94, 96 to dividethe second tier 32 from the third tier 34. In a similar fashion, on theopposite side of common wall 48, first and second horizontal walls 108,110 can respectively include slots 108 a, 110 a for engagement withcorresponding slots 116, 118 defined in the vertical walls 92, 94, 96.

In the illustrated embodiment, a shelf unit 14 generally has a racetrack shape (i.e., oval or elliptical with parallel straight sides).More specifically, the shelf unit 14 has a major dimension 124 and aminor dimension 126 defined between the first and second sides 36, 38,which are parallel with one another. Corresponding to this shape are thebase wall 90 and top wall 102. The major dimension 124 thus defines alength of the shelf unit 14 and the minor dimension 126 defines a widthof the shelf unit 14, with the major dimension being greater than theminor dimension in the illustrated embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1,vertical support members 132, 134 extend from the base wall 90 to thetop wall 102 at central portions of the shelf unit curved ends 128, 130.The vertical support members 132, 134 can include respective grooves 132a, 134 a for receiving opposite ends of the horizontal walls 104, 106,108, 110. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, shelf space defined by thehorizontal walls 104-110 adjacent ends thereof (i.e., between verticalwalls 92, 94) and corresponding vertical supports 132, 134 can provideauxiliary storage space 136 on the storage device 10.

As already discussed herein, and as shown in the illustrated embodiment,the storage device 10 can be a shoe rack wherein the plurality ofreceptacles 40-46 and 50-64 are stacked shoe receptacles of the shelfunit 14, each dimensioned for receipt of a pair of shoes, such as pairof shoes 70. In this case, these receptacles 40, 42, 50, 52, 58, 60 arefirst shoe receptacles with their access openings disposed along thefirst side 36 and the receptacles 44, 46, 54, 56, 62, 64 are second shoereceptacles having respective access openings disposed along the second,opposite side 38 of the shelf unit 14. Additionally, first shoereceptacle access openings and the first side 36 of the shelf unit 14are disposed on the first side 78 of the base when the shelf unit 14 isin the first rotatable position shown in FIG. 1 relative to the base 12,whereas the second shoe receptacle access openings and the second side38 of the shelf unit 14 are disposed on the first side 78 of the base 12when the shelf unit is rotated to the second rotatable position (FIG. 5)relative to the base 12 (i.e., the second rotatable position being

The track members 18 permit the shelf unit 14 to be linearly movablerelative to the base 12 to allow the shelf unit to be moved relative tothe base prior to rotating the shelf unit relative to the base. Inparticular, the shelf unit 14 is linearly movable from the firstposition of FIG. 1 wherein the shelf unit is disposed directly over thebase 12 to a second position of FIGS. 3-5 wherein the shelf unit isoffset relative to the front side 78 of the base. When disposed in thecloset 70, the shelf unit 14 is slidable relative to the base 12 fromthe first linear position to the second linear position a distancesufficient to allow the shelf unit 14 to fully rotate while in thesecond position without the first and second ends 128, 130 of the shelfunit 14 crossing through the plane defined by the second side 38 of theshelf unit when in the first position.

With reference to FIG. 6, a shoe or article storage device 200 is shownaccording to an alternate embodiment. Except as noted hereinbelow,device 200 can be the same or similar to the storage device 10 alreadydescribed. The device 200 has a generally circular configuration asopposed to the oval or elliptical shape or configuration of the device10. Additionally, shelf unit 202 of the device 200 is only rotatablymovable relative to base 204 (i.e., there is no slidable movement of theshelf unit 202 relative to the base 204), such as by rotatable member205. Thus, access to the receptacles of storage device 200 is gainedsimply by rotating the shelf unit 202 relative to the base 204.

With reference to FIG. 7, the storage device 200 can be constructed ofknock-down components, which allow for easy assembly and/or disassembly.In particular, shelf unit 202 can be formed of a base member or wall 206and a top member or wall 208 with vertical walls 210, 212, 214, 216, 218secured thereto. In particular, common wall 210 can be flanked by endwalls 212, 214 and dividing walls 216, 218 can be arranged orthogonalrelative to the common wall 210. Cam action fasteners (not shown) can beused to secure the vertical walls 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 to the walls206, 208, or other conventional fasteners could be used. Like horizontalwalls 104-110 of the device 10, the shelf unit 202 can includehorizontal walls 224, 226, 228, 230 each having respective slots 224 a,226 a, 228 a, 230 a that cooperatively engage corresponding slots 224 ofthe walls 212-218. In addition, and also like the storage device 10,vertical support members 232, 234 can be provided adjacent and spacedapart from the end walls 212, 214 to define auxiliary storage space 236for each tier of the storage device 200.

The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations willoccur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detaileddescription. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construedas including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A shoe rack, comprising: a base; and a shelf unit slidably androtatably mounted to said base, said shelf unit defining a plurality ofstacked shoe receptacles each dimensioned for receipt of a pair ofshoes, said plurality of stacked shoe receptacles including at least afirst shoe receptacle having a first shoe receptacle access openingdisposed along a first side of said shelf unit and at least a secondshoe receptacle having a second shoe receptacle access opening disposedalong a second, opposite side of said shelf unit.
 2. The shoe rack ofclaim 1 wherein said first shoe receptacle access opening and said firstside of said shelf unit are disposed on a first side of said base whensaid shelf unit is in a first rotatable position relative to said base,and said second shoe receptacle access opening and said second side ofsaid shelf unit are disposed on said first side of said base when saidshelf unit is rotated to a second rotatable position relative to saidbase.
 3. The shoe rack of claim 2 wherein said second rotatable positionis approximately 180° relative to said first rotatable position.
 4. Theshoe rack of claim 1 wherein said shelf unit is linearly moveablerelative to said base to allow said shelf unit to be moved relative tosaid base prior to rotating said shelf unit relative to said base. 5.The shoe rack of claim 4 wherein said shelf unit is linearly moveablefrom a first position wherein said shelf unit is disposed directly oversaid base to a second position wherein said shelf unit is offsetrelative to a front side of said base.
 6. The shoe rack of claim 1wherein said shelf unit has a major dimension or axis with which saidfirst and second sides of said shelf unit are parallel and a minordimension or axis extending between said first and second sides of saidshelf unit, said minor dimension or axis less than said major dimensionor axis.
 7. The shoe rack of claim 6 wherein said shelf unit has an ovalor elliptical horizontal shape defined by said major axis and said minoraxis, opposite ends of said major axis defining first and second ends ofsaid shelf unit.
 8. The shoe rack of claim 7 wherein said shelf unit isslidable relative to said base from a first linear position to a secondlinear position a distance sufficient to allow said shelf unit to fullyrotate while in said second position without said first and second endsof said shelf unit crossing through a plane defined by said second sideof said shelf unit when in said first position.
 9. The shoe rack ofclaim 7 wherein auxiliary storage is defined by a radial shelf disposedadjacent back-to-back first and second shoe receptacles and an adjacentone of said first and second ends of said shelf unit.
 10. The shoe rackof claim 1 wherein said shelf unit includes at least two tiers of shoereceptacles with each tier having at least two first shoe receptaclesthat each have said first shoe receptacle access opening and at leasttwo second shoe receptacles that each have said second shoe receptacleaccess opening.
 11. The shoe rack of claim 1 wherein said shelf unit isknockdown components for easy assembly.
 12. A shoe or article storagedevice for optimizing storage and accessibility within a confined area,such as a closet, comprising: a base; a shelf unit slidably mounted tosaid base for movement between a first position and a second offsetposition and also rotatably mounted to said base for rotatable movementrelative thereto, said shelf unit including a first tier of articlereceptacles and a second tier of article receptacles stacked on top ofsaid first tier, each tier of article receptacles including at least afirst receptacle having a first receptacle access opening disposed at afirst side of said shelf unit and at least a second receptacle having asecond receptacle access opening disposed at a second, opposite side ofsaid shelf unit.
 13. The shoe or article storage device of claim 12wherein said at least a first receptacle and said at least a secondreceptacle are disposed in back-to-back relation and share a common backwall.
 14. The shoe or article storage device of claim 12 wherein saidarticle receptacles of said first and second tiers are generallybox-shaped.
 15. The shoe or article storage device of claim 12 whereinsaid shelf unit further includes a third tier of article receptaclesstacked on top of said second tier.
 16. The shoe or article storagedevice of claim 12 wherein said second side of said shelf unit defines apositioning plane when said shelf unit is in said first position, saidshelf unit fully disposed on one side of said positioning plane when insaid second offset position and rotated through 360°.
 17. The shoe orarticle storage device of claim 16 wherein said positioning plane isclosely adjacent an associated rear wall of the confined space, andwherein slidably moving said shelf unit from said first position to saidsecond position allows rotation of said shelf unit without impediment bythe associated rear wall.
 18. The shoe or article storage device ofclaim 12 wherein said shelf unit has a major dimension, with which saidfirst and second sides are parallel, and a minor dimension definedbetween said first and second sides, said major dimension defining alength of said she f unit and said minor dimension defining a width ofsaid shelf unit, said major dimension greater than said minor dimension.19. A rotatable and slidable article storage rack, comprising: a base;and a shelf unit slidably and rotatably mounted to said base, said shelfunit defining a plurality of tiered receptacles, said tiered receptaclesincluding a first set of receptacles having first access openings facingoutward from a first side of said shelf unit and a second set ofreceptacles having second access openings facing outward from a secondside of said shelf unit, said first access openings facing in a firstdirection relative to said base when said shelf unit is in a firstrotatable position relative to said base, said second access openingsfacing in said first direction when said shelf unit is rotated from saidfirst rotatable position 1800 to a second rotatable position relative tosaid base.
 20. The rotatably and slidable article storage rack of claim19 wherein said shelf unit is only rotatable from said first rotatableposition to said second rotatable position when said shelf unit isslidably displaced from a first slidable position to a second slidableposition.